A Day at Alipore Horticulture Gardens in Kolkata

Today, 7th February is Rose day. Roses are the most beautiful flowers in the world. Who doesn't want to be gifted by a bouquet of roses or even a single rose flower? Many poets have written poems praising the eccentric beauty of a rose and its impact on human emotions and feelings. Imagine walking inside a rose garden, adorned with innumerable varieties of pretty and attractive flowers. Isn't it a wonderful experience? Let me introduce you to the exotic Alipore Horticulture Gardens in kolkata, the capital city of the state of west bengal in India. Popularly the garden is known for its rare and exclusive collection of roses.

A Hidden gem in Kolkata

A hidden gem and an offbeat location in the city, beaming with wide varieties of bright and charming flowers. Yes, that's how I want to define the Alipore Horticulture Gardens. Spread across an area of 21 acres of land, the garden is located at one of the lavish locations of the city. Innumerable varieties of trees, plants, shrubs, herbs, and other different types of vegetation and plantations are the exquisite assets of the Alipore Horticulture Gardens. Though Kolkata is prominent in its ancient and historical buildings and its delectable cuisine. Yet one must not miss out on visiting the gardens, especially during the winters when it blooms with the flowers.

The Rose garden

The Alipore Horticulture Gardens is well maintained and curated. The entire area is circumference by a line of tall trees. It is divided into several sections for proper planning and arrangement.

The Rose garden is the special attraction of the garden. And I specifically like to focus on the rose garden, being rose day today. There are about 250 species of lovely flowers, spread across this particular section of the garden. You will love to stroll around and witness the roses in a multitude of colors; truly a soothing treat to the eyes. One cannot stop clicking pictures of each of the rose varieties. The roses vary in size from huge ones to the dwarf ones. But all are a delight to watch and appreciate. The blooms portray the relentless effort of the gardeners who work day and night to preserve and maintain the roses. Great deal of care and attention are required for nurturing the rose garden. Here are some of the pictures from the rose garden, especially celebrating rose day.

Other sections of the Alipore Horticulture Gardens

The Darbhanga House, a greenhouse for preserving the rare and ornamental plants
The William Carey Xero Garden which houses different types of xerophytes
Orchidarium where you can find 56 types of native and hybrid orchids
Bhesaj Udyan containing a collection of aromatic and medicinal plants
A Japanese-style garden elegantly decorated and with a beautiful waterfall
An orchard where different types of fruits are grown
Nursery for buying plant saplings
A shop for buying flowers or flower bouquets
Library for checking out books on horticulture and related subjects
A research laboratory and a training centre for encouraging and facilitating studies on horticulture.

Annual Flower show

The Alipore Horticulture Gardens organizes an annual flower show, drawing a huge number of nature admirers and flower lovers. Rose plants occupy a special place at the show. Though COVID has brought in several restrictions; but with an expectation of things returning to normalcy, the show will surely be back again.

How to reach the gardens?

It is located on the Alipore main road, very close to the Zoological gardens and the National library. You can board a cab or opt for buses to reach the place from anywhere in Kolkata. If you are travelling from any other city in West Bengal then there are two options. One is to reach the Howrah station and avail cabs or private and public buses. Other is to directly hire a cab or drive your own car to reach the place.

Hope you liked the roses.

Picture Courtesy: My Father Prosanta Kumar Banerjee and my mother Gouri Banerjee

Author

Kuntala

A travel enthusiast craving to explore the exotic destinations in the world, deciphering the mysteries and the thrill concealed in them.